Ft. Collins, Col. – Now that Black Friday and Cyber
Monday have passed for another year, retailers are searching for a way to
extend the holiday shopping season, and procrastinating consumers are looking
for options to find that last-minute gift. It’s a perfect time for Free
Shipping Day (www.freeshippingday.com).
Set for December 17, Free Shipping Day represents the
last possible 24-hour period when online shoppers can place their orders with
guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. More than 450 retailers have already
signed up to participate, eclipsing last year’s final tally of 250. Free
Shipping Day creator Luke Knowles expects the number to surpass 500.
“Numbers show that online shopping dramatically slows
after December 12th,” Knowles said. “Free Shipping Day encourages people to
continue buying items online later into the month of December, and obviously
this is appealing for retailers.”
Knowles - who created FreeShipping.org with his wife,
Maisie, in 2007, hatched the idea for Free Shipping Day in just two weeks
before the event last December. In an abrupt brainstorm, he thought that
retailers would relish the opportunity to extend the online holiday shopping
season, which typically peaks in early December because consumers are concerned
about their gift orders arriving to their intended destination in time for
Christmas.
Knowles expected a favorable response from retailers and
consumers last year, but he didn’t anticipate the overwhelming interest that
the event actually received. Free Shipping Day attracted more than 250
merchants and the FreeShippingDay.com web site saw 250,000 hits in a 10-day
period, including 100,000 on the actual day itself.
“This year, we have had all year to prepare for Free
Shipping Day,” Knowles said. “We know more what to expect and merchants know
what to expect. They had a good experience because of all the traffic they
received during last year’s Free Shipping Day, and more exposure leads to more
interest from retailers.”
Free Shipping Day will be even more attractive for
consumers because a higher number of retailers are offering free shipping on
all orders.
“Merchants asked how they could get better placement on
the Free Shipping Day web site, and we are giving them a more prominent
location if they offer free shipping on all orders,” Knowles explained.
“We would like to reach point where the majority of
retailers are offering free shipping on all orders,” he added. “That will make
better experience for shoppers because there will be better deals.”
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